The chief photographer on a movie, responsible for camera angles, lighting, focal points, and other visual aspects.
Supervises all decisions regarding lighting, camera lenses, color and filters, camera angle set-ups, camera crew and film processing.
Cinematographer who is ultimately responsible for the process of recording a scene in the manner desired by the director.
The DP is responsible to the director for achieving optimum image on film. Selects the camera and lighting equipment and supervises camera and lighting crews for each shot.
Responsible for capturing the creative idea of the production, as interpreted by the Director, on film or video. The D.P. is retained on the basis of his or her unique talents for filming the type of commercial or program to be produced. The D.P. is both a technician and an artist. Thus, while the Director explains his or her vision to the D.P., the D.P. must decide the best manner in which to transfer that vision to film or video. This requires the D.P. to make creative decisions as to items such as camera lenses, lens filters, shutter speed, film speed, and lighting. The production company will rely on the D.P. to determine what equipment needs to be obtained for the project and will defer to the determination of the D.P., subject to budgetary constraints.[ edit
Also known as the "DP", the "Cameraman" and the "Cinematographer", is the head of the production unit (and second units) and is directly responsible to the Director. The DP helps the Director translate the written word to the screen, supervising the operation of the lighting equipment and the camera crews. During pre-production, goes over the script with the director and producer and decides which scenes will be dark, light, high angle, low angle, etc. and what equipment will be necessary to get the shot.
Responsible for creating the shot, including the angle, lighting effects and many other aspects. He is also known as a Lighting Cameraman.
Responsible for the “look” of the film; works with the lighting director to set-up shots and camera moves. The D.P. has the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that each scene is properly recorded on film. Sometimes called the cinematographer.